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12/21/11

Playroom Sensory Table


Who needs a coffee table, anyway?

We bought our tray top coffee table many years ago, when we lived in our previous home.  Actually, it was the first time we bought furniture together as a married couple.  Sweet, I know.  :)  So this table felt special to us.  It just never seemed to fit right in this house.  The rooms are narrower.  We need space to move around in.  Put our feet up.  Children have to do somersaults and dance and such!
 
So last Christmas I gave myself a gift.  An ottoman who's lid flips over to become a tray.  

But what would I do with the "old" coffee table???

Yeah, don't pick on the Boys...this was taken last Thanksgiving...it's football and nap time!

Pictured here is my dad, my son and my brother in law.  Everybody else (I swear) was in my tiny kitchen...I think about 15 of them, to be exact.

Then inspiration struck!

I'd been dreaming of a nice sensory table for my playroom. The kids were playing with sand and water inside big bins that I would just place on the floor. But my playroom is not huge. There really isn't a lot of room for larger furniture and accessories or the kids don't have space to spread out and really PLAY. So, without boring you with too many details...here is what we did with our beloved old tray table.

This one you have to see!!!

Scott sprayed the table with a creamy white enamel...
I added one of my favorite Dr. Seuss quotes.  I cut these out of sticky-backed vinyl using my Cricut.

I couldn't leave the little chippy chairs out, now could I?

This one's for Thing One!

And this one's for Thing Two!

The table top is so shiny because it's a piece of scrap acrylic cut to fit inside the tray top...smart, huh? 
(This was my idea but we'll let Scott think it was his, k?)

Perfect for dry erase artwork!! 

These are dry erase CRAYONS!  They are AWESOME!  You can wipe them off with a little mitten that comes with them. They wash off of EVERYTHING with a little bit of soapy water.  Genius, I tell you.
But that is not all, no that is not all...

The acrylic table top lifts off to reveal an endless supply of playtime possibilities...

My darling, amazing, handy, creative, generous, willing, smart, hard-working husband (yes, all of those and more!) cut a hole just the right size for my sensory bins to fit into! 

So the children play with sand (Moon Sand is pictured here)...and they play with water...and ice...and colored rice...and cotton balls...and bubbles...
Oh yes, the possibilites are ENDLESS...Just like their imaginations!

Sometimes they like to bring the dishes from the kitchen and make birthday cakes with Popsicle sticks for the candles.  It's always my birthday for some reason.  Do you think that means I seem really old to them???  Haha!

I hope you like what you see!  If you haven't already done so, please become a follower.  There is so much more that we want to share with you, if you are willing!  You can follow us on Facebook too.

And remember:

"A person's a person, no matter how small."

I hope each and every one of you is able to enjoy your holiday with loved ones.  May you be filled with the Spirit of Christmas!

Sherry



19 comments :

  1. All I can say is OMG, you are a genius! This is just great and I know it is going to see a lot of use in your play room.

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  2. Hi Sherry, What a fabulous idea and the table turned out wonderful! Happy Holidays to you and yours.
    Hugs,
    Sherry

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  3. Oh that table is so cute! Such a great creative way to reuse it! Love!

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  4. As a prior preschool teacher, this is a fabulous idea! Thanks for sharing!

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  5. I am amazed at what you have done here. So creative and useful. That is an awesome sensory table and a beautiful one at that. Awesome! I am a new follower visiting from Today's Creative Blog. Vicky from Mess For Less

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  6. What a great re-use for a coffee table! I love it.

    Anna
    www.askannamoseley.com

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  7. The table transformation is awesome!! I know your kids LOVE it!! Great Job! Please come share tomorrow over at passionatelyperfect.com!

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  8. I love it! What a fantastic idea. Love the Dr. Seuss theme as well. Great job!

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  9. that is adorable and a fabulous idea for the little peeps!

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  10. Awesome idea! Thanks for sharing with my newbie party.

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  11. This is incredible! It looks so much nicer than the sensory tables you can buy. I love the wipe off top... and dry erase crayons?! I hadn't heard of them before. I love how you can just cover up the sensory bin when the kids have finished. And the quote... the PERFECT touch!

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  12. That is an AWESOME table!! Great job! So happy to have you link up to the Tuesday To Do Party at The Blackberry Vine!
    Happy New Year!
    Smiles!
    Jami
    www.blackberryvine.blogspot.com

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  13. The transformation is amazing! Not only does it look good, it is functional and kid friendly! Would love love love for you to share your projects at my best of 2011 party going on now http://space46.blogspot.com/2011/12/best-of-2011-made-up-loved-linky-party.html. Happy new year! My

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  14. That is awesome!! I need to start scouting out the thrift stores now for a coffee table with a lip like that! Awesome idea!! I would love for you to come share this at our link party...junkintheirtrunk.blogspot.com/2011/12/link-it-up-wednesday-9.html

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  15. I just found your blog and all I can say is...GENIUS!!!!! I wish they had blogs when I was younger and all I had for money and motivation was Woman's Day and Family Circle! LOL! You guys rock! Thanks for the motivation and how-to! I am a follower for life! Happy New Year to you and your darling family!

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  16. I want to do this! Any tips on where to get a coffee table like that? My searches aren't returning any worthwhile results. Thanks!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Christina! This table has gotten so much use. I'm actually about to sell it because all my little kids are gone.. :(
      I would suggest checking thrift stores regularly and maybe yard sales...any table with a little ledge around the perimeter would be good. I'm thinking you could probably even add some thin wood trim to the edge if you couldn't find a tray style table. Just use some wood glue and nail it down to give it a good seal. That would cut down on the sand spilling all over the floor.

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    2. Thanks for the tip! If I wasn't in CT, I'd buy the table from you!

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